The Secret Sauce of Successful Charter School Boards
Every high-performing charter school board has its own unique “recipe” for success—but the essential ingredients are the same: clarity of roles, strong relationships, and a shared commitment to mission. This session will break down the key practices that transform boards from functional to truly exceptional, with practical tools you can take back to your school.
Key Takeaways:
- Identify the core “ingredients” that drive effective board culture and governance
- Learn strategies for building trust, collaboration, and accountability among board members
- Gain practical tools for recruitment, onboarding, and sustaining a high-functioning board over time
Presented by
Caitlin O'Halloran Heller
Governance and Policy Specialist
Charter Schools Development CenterCaitlin O’Halloran Hellar is the Governance and Policy Specialist at CSDC. Caitlin leads CSDC's development and delivery of matters relating to governance, policy, and other charter school leadership topics. In 2004, Caitlin co-founded the Dixon Montessori Charter School (DMCS). From 2013-2022 she served on the Dixon Unified School District Governing Board which authorizes DMCS. She served one term on the Advisory Commission on Charter Schools and has been a workshop presenter at statewide educational conferences, a commentator on public radio, and the Woman of the Year for Senate District 03 in 2016.
